SolarWinds CISO: Navigating a Cyberattack and Its Aftermath
Ever wonder what it’s truly like when a cyber disaster of epic proportions lands squarely on your company’s doorstep, turning your perfectly normal Saturday into a global incident response marathon? For Tim Brown, the CISO of SolarWinds, that nightmare became a reality. He’s not just a cybersecurity leader; he’s a battle-scarred veteran who navigated the most talked-about supply chain attack in modern history. This isn't just a tale of survival; it’s an indispensable, no-holds-barred guide for every cybersecurity leader bracing for the inevitable. Buckle up, because you're about to gain wisdom only forged in the fires of an unprecedented cyber tsunami.
The Saturday Morning That Changed Everything: A New Breed of Attack (And Why 18,000 Customers Didn't All Go Boom)
The chilling call arrived on a serene Saturday morning in December 2020. It wasn't about brunch; it was Kevin Mandia the CEO of Mandiant delivering news that would forever redefine supply chain attacks: the Russian SVR had stealthily infiltrated SolarWinds and fundamentally altered their code. This wasn't merely a breach; it was an unprecedented attack model, utterly unheard of at the time. For 25 years, SolarWinds had been a stalwart in network management, offering a "god's eye view" of enterprise networks. Yet, they weren't the ultimate target. Instead, they became the "conduit to the target", specifically four critical government agencies.
Initial assessments were grim, suggesting 18,000 customers had downloaded the tainted update. The media, understandably, had a field day with that number. However, Tim clarified a crucial detail often lost in the headlines: actual impact required customers to connect to an unknown command and control (C2) server and accept commands. Thanks to vigilant firewall configurations, the absence of direct internet exposure for many Orion instances, and other protective measures, the true number of customers proceeding to this critical second stage was remarkably under a hundred. This vital distinction allowed for a more accurate damage assessment and was instrumental in rebuilding trust, offering a slight sigh of relief amidst the impending chaos. It's a powerful reminder that while headlines grab attention, the devil is always in the details – and in this case, those details saved a lot of companies from a much worse fate.
The adversary's approach was shockingly sophisticated: a "patient, thoughtful, well-run mission". They didn't smash their way in; they strategized with the precision of a master chess player. The SVR conducted meticulous reconnaissance, even doing a test run in October. They returned in February with an astonishing 3,000 lines of error-free code and no, ChatGPT wasn't around back then to help them. This malicious code then lay dormant for 14 days before activating. This deliberate, slow-burn mission was a stark departure from typical Russian threat actor behavior, more akin to the patience often associated with Chinese groups. Their cunning infiltration method bypassed standard source code controls, targeting the build supply chain itself. They inserted a small, transient service into the virtual machines used for compilation, which would swap in their malicious code when a specific file was being built. The compiled, signed code then appeared legitimate, leaving no immediate trace of the tampering. It was a ghost in the machine, signed by its unwitting host.
Rebuilding from the Ashes: SolarWinds' Blueprint for Cyber Resilience
The immediate aftermath was a blur of intense, round-the-clock work. Tim and his team essentially lived at the office for three straight weeks, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of us were perfecting our sourdough starters, they were battling a nation-state attack. Amidst the chaos, a crucial lesson emerged: the CEO must be prepared to take a leadership position during a crisis, a role that should be practiced in tabletops. Because let's be honest, in any room, the CEO is at the front, giving direction – a cyber crisis is no different.
However, the real, enduring transformation came in how SolarWinds rebuilt its security infrastructure. Their new build process for the Orion platform (now called HCO) is a masterclass in resilience, a monument to learning from the toughest lessons:
Triple Builds: The Three-Headed Security Hydra. Instead of a single build process, they now perform three simultaneous, independent builds. The genius? No single person has access to all three, and if the final outputs don't precisely match, nothing ships. It's like having three chefs independently bake the same cake, and if even a single sprinkle is out of place on one, the whole batch gets tossed.
Externalized and Code-Driven: Security as Code (Literally). Every single aspect of their build process is now externalized and explicitly defined in code. This dramatically increases transparency and control, making it far harder for hidden nasties to lurk in the shadows.
Ephemeral Systems: Build, Destroy, Repeat. The build systems themselves are not static environments. Instead, they are completely rebuilt from scratch every single time the build button is pressed, utilizing transient virtual machines. This makes it significantly harder for an attacker to maintain a persistent presence in the build environment – because, well, it ceases to exist after each build!
Two-Person Control: Collusion is Key. To prevent a single point of failure or insider threat, critical actions require collusion, meaning at least two individuals must approve or execute them. This significantly raises the bar for any potential malicious activity, turning a lone wolf attack into a much riskier pack endeavor. Think of it as requiring two keys to launch the digital missile, not just one.
Implementing these monumental changes was an immense undertaking, requiring the dedicated effort of 400 engineers over six months to complete. The investment, however, paid off handsomely. SolarWinds, now a private company, achieved a remarkable 98-99% customer renewal rates after the incident. This demonstrates a powerful truth: a company that has faced and transparently overcome a major breach often emerges stronger and more trustworthy, having made significant investments in security that others may not have. Sometimes, the scariest stories lead to the safest bets.
Recommendations for CISOs: Building an Unbreakable Foundation (Even When the Sky is Falling)
Based on SolarWinds' crucible of experience, here are actionable recommendations for CISOs looking to fortify their organizations and prepare for the worst:
Practice CEO Engagement Like It's a Fire Drill (Because It Is): Don't wait for a crisis to involve your CEO. Include your CEO in tabletop exercises and ensure they understand their critical leadership role during an incident. Help them rehearse their lines, because when the cameras are rolling (and they will be), you want them to be a steady leader, not a deer in headlights.
Embrace "Assume Breach": Design your defenses with the expectation that a breach will occur. Your focus shifts from simply preventing intrusion to minimizing dwell time, limiting lateral movement, and reducing potential damage once an attacker is inside. It’s less about building an impenetrable wall and more about creating a maze with dead ends and alarm bells everywhere.
Harden Your Build Pipeline as if Your Life Depends on It (Because Your Company's Does): Review your software development lifecycle with a magnifying glass. Implement advanced controls like multiple, independent builds and ephemeral build environments to protect against sophisticated supply chain attacks. Also, consider post-build verification using tools like Reversing Labs to compare final executables against expected outcomes and detect subtle changes that might indicate tampering – because the compiled code can hide secrets the source code never knew.
Implement Two-Person Control for Critical Functions: For highly sensitive systems or critical processes, mandate that multiple individuals must approve or execute changes. This makes collusion necessary, drastically increasing the difficulty and risk for attackers, whether internal or external. It’s your internal "launch keys" protocol.
The CISO on the Stand: Navigating Legal Minefields and Personal Fallout (Spoiler: It Gets Expensive!)
Beyond the technical ordeal, the SolarWinds attack shined a harsh spotlight on the immense legal and personal pressures CISOs face. As a public company at the time, SolarWinds reported the incident via an 8-K filing on a Monday morning, beating today's 48-hour requirement for "material" events. Talk about being ahead of the curve, even in disaster!
However, the definition of "materiality" is NOT the CISO's sole responsibility. While CISOs provide crucial input, it is the legal, finance, or even the board that ultimately determines if an event is "material," considering not just financial impact but also reputation, regulatory implications, and legal risks. Tim stresses the importance of having this process clearly documented and signed off by the general counsel. Your $5 million threshold might seem like a lot, but if it takes down the national grid, it's definitely material, regardless of the direct financial hit.
The personal toll for Tim was profound. In December 2021, a year after the attack, he received a "Pre-Wells" notice from the SEC, indicating he was being considered for charges. This immediately triggered the need for his own attorney, incurring legal costs that exceeded a million dollars. While D&O (Directors & Officers) insurance provides some coverage, it often falls short in massive, multi-year events like this. It turns out, that "million-dollar day fund" isn't just a funny thought; it's a stark reality for many CISOs, though thankfully, Tim’s company stepped up.
Crucially, SolarWinds' leadership stood "completely" behind Tim, covering all his legal costs and maintaining a vital separation between his personal attorney and the company's. This unwavering support was invaluable. In July 2023, a significant victory occurred: a judge dismissed approximately 90% of the case against Tim and SolarWinds. The charges were specific, focusing on accusations of misrepresenting security in public documents. This experience underscores the critical importance of careful language and meticulous documentation, as "everything is discoverable" in a legal context. When engaging external incident response firms, Tim recommends having your law firm bring them in to maintain some level of attorney-client privilege and ensure efficiency. It’s like putting a legal force field around your investigation.
Recommendations for CISOs: Protecting Yourself and Your Role (Because You're Not Just a Scapegoat Officer)
Clarify Materiality Definition (Seriously, Do It Now): Work with your legal and finance teams to formally define what constitutes a "material" cybersecurity incident for your organization. Document this process and have it approved by general counsel. Don't let the definition of "material" be a mystery to be solved during a crisis.
Document Everything (Yes, EVERYTHING): Maintain meticulous records of security processes, decisions, and communications. Assume that everything you say or write could one day be scrutinized in a legal setting. If you didn't write it down, it didn't happen (in court, anyway).
Have the "Liability/Accountability" Talk (Using Tim's Story as Leverage): Use Tim's experience as a concrete, chilling example to discuss with your leadership (CEO, Board) how the company will support you in the event of a major incident, specifically regarding legal costs and D&O insurance coverage. Understand the distinction between accountability (where the CEO can fire you for poor performance) and legal liability (where you are personally charged). This isn't about being scared; it's about being prepared and having a human conversation about protection.
Leverage Legal Counsel for Incident Response (Your New Best Friend): When bringing in external incident response teams or forensic investigators, consider having your legal counsel contract with them. This may help maintain attorney-client privilege over sensitive investigation details, providing a crucial layer of protection when you're in the crosshairs. It also helps streamline coordination with multiple parties in the room.
The Supply Chain Imperative: What to Demand from Your Vendors (Beyond Just a Smile and a Brochure)
The SolarWinds attack indelibly stamped supply chain security as a top priority. As CISOs, how can you gain real assurance from your suppliers in a world that currently lacks a universal "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" for security? (Sigh, we wish there was one.)
While there isn't one magic bullet, emerging frameworks and practices are offering more clarity:
Demand Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) and VEX Documents: Request SBOMs from your vendors, which list all components in their software. Additionally, ask for VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) documents, which explain the exploitability status of any vulnerabilities found within those components. SolarWinds now proudly provides these with their products, setting a new standard. It’s like asking for the ingredient list for your software, not just the finished meal.
Seek Attestations to Security Frameworks: Look for vendors who can attest to adherence to frameworks like the Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) and the Enduring Security Framework (ESF). These indicate a commitment to secure development practices, not just a promise. SolarWinds was the first company to sign the SSDF, demonstrating their commitment.
Require Documentation of Processes: Request detailed documentation of a vendor's development processes and security procedures. This provides invaluable insight into their operational security, going beyond self-attestations.
Prioritize Criticality Over Cost: When evaluating suppliers, shift your focus from simply what you pay them to where they sit within your network and what they have access to. A low-cost vendor providing a critical service that has "god's eye view" access to your network should be scrutinized far more rigorously than a high-cost vendor providing an isolated, non-critical service. This is the profound lesson from SolarWinds: the conduit can be just as dangerous as the target.
Be Smart About Supplier Questionnaires: While SMBs might get the "go away kid, you bother me" treatment from big vendors, larger enterprises have more leverage. Push for standardized information gathering (SIG) documents and expect readily available documentation like SOC 2 reports or ISO certifications. The dream of AI filling out questionnaires isn't far off, but for now, expect to put in the manual work. Just try not to "hallucinate" any answers!
Beyond the Breach: Tim Brown's Final Wisdom for the Modern CISO
Tim Brown offers candid advice that transcends the technical and legal quagmire, touching on the very essence of the CISO role:
Don't Give Up on the Calling: Despite the immense pressure and the looming specter of liability, the cybersecurity profession is extremely needed. Most people in this field are there for the calling of keeping things secure and helping their organizations thrive. Keep fighting the good fight.
Educate on Language and Responsibility: Make sure everyone in your organization, especially leadership, understands how to describe security postures and incidents in the right way. Reiterate that "everything is discoverable" in a legal context. Words matter, and imprecise language can land you in hot water.
Embrace Resilience and Shrinking Dwell Times: The time between a CVE being issued and an exploit appearing is shrinking rapidly, and with AI, it will soon be mere hours. This means you must build in resilience and assume breach, focusing on limiting damage once a compromise occurs, rather than solely on prevention. The walls will be breached; focus on making your fortress a deathtrap for the enemy inside.
Understand the "Two CISOs" Principle: The CISO you need the day before an incident and the CISO you need the day after an incident are fundamentally different, requiring different skill sets. It’s okay if you don't possess both sets of skills, but be prepared for the possibility of being replaced by a "relief pitcher" who is better suited for the crisis management phase. It's not personal; it's business, and it's about the survival of the company. Being prepared for this reality demonstrates true leadership.
Tim's journey is a powerful testament to the challenges and triumphs of modern cybersecurity leadership. His story, supported by SolarWinds' unwavering backing, provides invaluable lessons that no amount of textbook learning can replicate. As you navigate your own organization's security landscape, remember the "battle scars" of SolarWinds, and use these insights to build a foundation that can withstand even the most sophisticated attacks. Stay safe out there, and keep those digital defenses strong!